Beer-tap



(No Model) D. E. SPRINGER & J. M. HADESTY.

BEER TAP.

Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

a. mum", p. c.

y I 1v ltllialll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. SPRINGER AND JAMES M; HADESTY, OF TAMAQUA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

BEER-TAP.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,583, dated January 5, 1897. Application filecl Pebruary 12, 1896. Serial No. 578,995. (No model.)

To ZLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL E. SPRINGER and JAMES M. HADESTY, citizens of the United States, residing at Tamaqua, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beer-Taps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in taps for drawing liquids from casks and the like, and has for its objects to provide such a device, which,'whenused to drive the bung of the cask inward, will'cut its way into said bung, thereby retaining the latter upon the end of the tap, so that it may serve as a stopper to prevent the outflow of liquid or gas from the cask prior to the insertion of a suitable pipe for the conveyance of the contents of the cask to the desired location, and to provide the inner end of this latter pipe with a bit, which-may be screwed into the bung, so that when the latter is forced from off the end of the tap to permit the outflow of the contents the bung will be held in suspension, so that it may be returned to the end of the tap for the purpose of again'closing the passage therethrough.

With these ends in View our invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, we will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring by numbers to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of our improvement, showing the tap in position after having been driven into the bung and just before the latter is forced out of the bun ghole; Fig. 2, an elevation showing the tap seated within the bung-hole and the bung suspended by the outlet-pipe; and Fig. 3 an enlarged section of the end of the tap, showing the cutting-bit driven into the bung and the screw-bit threaded therein.

Similar numbers denote like parts in the several views of the drawings.

1 represents the tap proper, having a tapering shank 2, adapted to be driven into the ordinary bu ng-hole, and 3 is a flange which limits the distance to which said taper may be driven by coming in contact with the metal bushing 4.

The upper end of the tap is threaded internally to receive the plug 5, which latter is provided with a central opening of sufficient size to permit the insertion of the outlet-pipe 6, and this pipe has formed upon its lower end a screw-bit 7, preferably in the shape of a corkscrew, and is also provided with perforations 8, through which liquid may gain access to the interior thereof.

Just below the interior threads formed in the upper end of the tap is an angular flange or shoulder 9, against which is placed a rubber or other suitable packing ring 10, the object of which is to form an air-tight connection between the outlet-pipe 6, when inserted through the plug 5, and this is accomplished by forcing the plug against the packing, so as to cause it to expand inward, therebyfirmly bearing against the outlet-pipe.

The lower end of this tap is threaded internally, so as to receive the threaded portion of the cutting-bit 11, the lower edge of which is sharpened after the manner of a die for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

hen it is desired to insert the tap within the cask, the cutting-bit is placed against the bung and the tap driven with sufficient force to cause said'bit to cutits way into the bung, as clearly shown by Figsl and 2, when by further force being exerted upon the tap the bung will be driven out of the bushing 4 and the shank of the tap caused to be seated within said bushing, as shown in Fig. 3; but as the cutting-bit has 'alread y taken a firm hold upon the bung the latter will be held upon the end thereof, so that the bit upon the end of the outlet-pipe may be screwed into the bung when said pipe is inserted through the plug, after which the bung may be driven from oif the cutting-bit by forcing the outlet-pipe inward. This will carry the perforations in the outlet-pipe beyond the inner end of the tap, so that the liquid within the cask may flow through said perforations andpipe to the desired location.

Should it at any time become necessary or desirable to remove the outlet-pipe before the contents of the cask has been entirely witlr drawn, this may be accomplished by drawing the outlet-pipe outward until the bung has been replaced upon the end of the tap, as shown in Fig. 3, when the bit 7 may be backed out of the bung and the outlet-pipe removed from the tap without the liability of leakage,

since the bung will then serve as a stopper to prevent the passage of liquid or gas through the tap, as before described.

To permit the forcing of air or gas within the cask for the purpose of elevating the liquid to any desired location, a nipple 12 is threaded into the side of the tap and provided at its inner end with a knob 13, which is covered by a rubber tip 14, having its closed end slitted, so as to permit the inflow of gas or air under pressure to check the outflow thereof, thus serving as a check-valve.

Since the cutting-bit ll is made separate from the tap proper and is secured thereto by screw-threads, it will be seen that should it become dull or worn it can be replaced by another, thus increasing the life of the device.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and useful is 1. I11 a tap such as described, a circular cutting-bit on the lower end thereof adapted to cut a circular groove in a bung to form a closing for the tap in combination with an outlet-pipe adapted to slide through the tap and force the bung out of engagement with the bit and engage in the bung to retain it when out of engagement with the circular bit so the bung may be replaced on the circular bit when it is desired to withdraw the outletpipe, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, a tubular tap, a bit on the end thereof adapted to engage a bung thereby forming a closing for the tap, an outlet-pipe adapted to slide through the top and disengage the bung from the bit said outlet-pipe having a screw-bit on its end to engage the bung and retain it in a position to close the tap when the outlet-pipe is withdrawn, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto atfixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL E. SPRINGER. J. M. I-IADESTY.

Witnesses O. S. SHINDEL, GEORGE STORCH. 

